Principal Secretary for Housing and Urban Development Charles Hinga has clarified the Central Organisation of Trade Unions’ (COTU) role in drafting the regulations that manage the Affordable Housing scheme.

In a statement on Saturday, June 7, 2025, PS Hinga revealed that COTU was represented throughout the formulation of the law and regulations through its nominee, Earnest Nadome.

“Moreover, the Act guarantees COTU a seat on the Affordable Housing Board, ensuring worker representation in oversight and implementation,” PS Hinga stated.

“Indeed, COTU-K voluntarily forwarded Mr. Earnest Nadome’s name to be its representative in the formulation of the enabling regulations, a fact that has escaped the top leadership of the Workers’ umbrella body,” the PS clearly explained.

Atwoli’s demands

PS Hinga’s statement confirming COTU’s involvement came a day after Francis Atwoli challenged him to provide evidence that the union was consulted in drafting the regulations.

While calling for proof, Atwoli slammed President William Ruto’s administration over what he termed as diverting the Affordable Housing levy to fund the construction of other infrastructure, such as markets.

“As COTU (K) we have never been consulted, either formally or informally, in the development, review. approval of the current Affordable Housing Regulations. In fact, at no point did the Executive Board of COTU (K), which is the legally mandated organ responsible for such organisational decisions, sit to deliberate or resolve to support the said regulations,” he said.

“If indeed PS Hinga claims that COTU (K) was involved, we challenge him to produce ANY written resolutions, minutes, or official correspondence from COTU (K)’s Executive Board endorsing the drafting or content of the current regulations. If anything, we have NEVER received any communication from the Affordable Housing Board or from PS Hinga inviting COTU (K) to give their views on the regulations.”

Atwoli had earlier claimed that Earnest Nadome could not act on behalf of the entire trade union without express approval from the board.

Committed to deliver

With the exchange seemingly far from over, Hinga maintained that the government was committed to delivering 250,000 units annually as promised by President William Ruto.

Nonetheless, Hinga insisted that the recent revelation by Ruto that the levy would be used to construct markets alongside housing across the country was spelt out in both the Act and regulations, even dating back to 2018.

Our Statement: Clarifying the Role of Social Infrastructure in the Affordable Housing Program pic.twitter.com/iHNeIS1uvH

— State Dept for Housing and Urban Development KE (@HousingUrbanKE) June 7, 2025